Rapid automatized naming method and apparatus

• US 6,350,128 B1
• Filed: 09/05/2000
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graham Neuhaus
• Original Assignee: Graham Neuhaus
• Inventors: Neuhaus, Graham
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Clayton, Sheila
• Application Number:
  US09/654,761
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 434/178, 434/156, 434/169, 434/185, 434/118, 434/307.R, 434/322, 434/362, 434/158, 434/307
• US Class Current: 434/178
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 17/006 with audible presentation of the material to be studied audio and audio-visual teaching apparatus in general G09B5/04, G09B5/06

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for analyzing reading skills comprised of recording and digitizing sound waves generated by a subject'"'"'s voice in response to a series of stimuli. The sound waves are decomposed into sequences of articulation and pause periods. The articulation and pause periods are determined by first scanning the generated sound waves and identifying locatians among the sound waves where the sound amplitude raises above or drops bellow a given value. The reading ability of the subject is profiled by analyzing the series of pause and/or articulation periods. The method allows for the diagnosis of reading deficiencies. Based on the diagnosed deficiencies in the subject'"'"'s reading skills, drill exercises are proposed and rounds of testing and drill exercising are repeated until the diagnosed reading deficiencies are corrected. The method is particularly suitable for use in conjunction with computerized equipment. A particular type of tests used in conjunction with this invention is the Reading Automatized Naming test (R.A.N.). The method and device of this application comprise presenting a subject with a set of R.A.N.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing reading and attentional skills, comprising:

providing a series of naming elements;

detecting a response as a user reads the naming elements; and

analyzing the frequencies of the responses.

2. A reading and attentional skills analysis device comprising;

(a) means for digitizing sound waves generated by a subject'"'"'s voice.

(b) means for decomposing digitized sound waves into a sequence of articulation periods and pause periods; and

(c) means for analyzing a sequence of articulation and pause periods.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising means for diagnosing reading deficiencies by analysis of a sequence of articulation and pause periods.

4. A method for analyzing reading and attention skills, comprising:

providing a series of naming elements;

detecting a response as a user reads the naming elements; and

determining the duration of articulation periods in the response.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the naming elements are arranged in epochs, and further comprising determining a variance of total articulation periods for the epochs.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of determining the duration of articulation periods in the response further comprises:

measuring a time period between an articulation onset and an articulation offset for each naming element,

adding each of the time periods for a total duration of articulation periods.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of determining the variance of total articulation periods further comprises:

storing the duration of articulation periods in a table;

comparing the duration of articulation periods for the user with a set of duration of articulation periods for readers of known reading ability; and

diagnosing user'"'"'s reading problems by a correlation between the duration of articulation periods of the user and the duration of articulation periods for readers of known reading ability.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

directing the user to one or several exercises, games, stories or activities, wherein the one or several exercises, games, stories or activities are chosen to address a particular reading deficiency.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or several exercises, games, stories or activities present the user with visual stimuli and automatically analyzes the user'"'"'s response to the presented stimuli.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or several exercises, games, stories or activities cue students to correct answers by modeling correct responses.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

using the one or several exercises, games, stories or activities;

determining improvement in the user'"'"'s reading problems.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or several exercises, games, stories or activities are delivered at a speed individualized for the user, and wherein the speed is increased or decreased in response to the progress made by the user in responding to the stimuli.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the user'"'"'s reading problems are selected from reading skill deficiencies, cognitive response times to visual stimuli, focus and sustained attention skills, or combinations thereof.